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Your GSP
or DK puppy should be fed a high quality premium puppy food until at least 6 months of age. This is a general guideline, and can be discussed with your veterinarian. Generally, though, GSP's
and DK's require the extra nutritional aspects that a premium puppy food can offer him or her during the first months of life.
At the proper time, your
pup can switch from premium puppy food to a premium high energy formula, preferably of the same brand. Shorthairs have high metabolisms as a general rule, and as a sporting breed, require extra protein and fat in their diets to maintain their ideal body weight. We recommend a protein percentage of at least 25%, and a fat percentage of at least 15%. We feed and recommend Diamond brand lamb and rice puppy and adult or sporting mix formulas, but other good choices are Science Diet, Kasco, Eukanuba, Eagle, Diamond, Nutros, Natural Choice, and other similar premium brands. Remember: Dogs are carnivorous animals, and NEED MEAT! Meats such as chicken, beef, or lamb should comprise the first ingredient in your dog's food. Many owners and breeders have had great success feeding a natural diet such as the B.A.R.F. (Bones and Raw Foods) diet, or other similar natural feeding regimens. Do so, however, only after research, and consultation with your veterinarian or canine nutritionist.
 We recommend that pups under 4 months of age be fed three times per day, if possible, and older pups and adults be fed twice per day whenever possible. We also recommend using the feeding recommendations given by your food manufacturer (usually on the back or side of your package), as a GUIDELINE for the proper amount to feed your pup or dog. The goal is to be able to easily feel the ribs with a minimal flesh/fat covering, but not be able to see your dog's ribs, hipbones, etc.
Let your eyes be the gauge--if you can see ribs and hipbones, then your dog probably needs more than the recommended daily allowance to keep weight on. If your dog has a good deal of fat covering the ribs so they cannot easily be felt, then your dog probably needs less than the recommended amount to stay at his/her ideal body weight.
We also recommend taking up the uneaten portion of food 15 minutes after your dog begins to eat. Leaving the uneaten portion around can encourage your dog to turn into a "nibbler" who may take a few bites throughout the day. Remember: this is not the way wild canids eat--they gorge themselves, then fast periodically prior to gorging again.
Although some GSP's
and DK's do fine on automatic or self-feeder regimens, others will just eat themselves sick!
This breed is highly food-motivated, and will often learn complicated behaviors, commands, or tricks for a few pieces of kibble in addition to a fond word of praise. . .
Remember:
The first ingredient of your dog's food should be MEAT! Dogs are carnivores!
The World of Canine Nutrition can be confusing--stick with a premium brand of food for your
DK or GSP
*We Feed, Sell, & Recommend Diamond brand dog food* |
